If Persa is unable to play, backup Kain Colter would get the start. Colter ran for two touchdowns and threw for another after replacing Persa against Nebraska. For the season, Colter has rushed for a team-leading 516 yards and eight touchdowns.

Persa was 24-of-32 for 307 yards and accounted for two touchdowns in a 30-13 win over the Owls last season in Houston.

• During Monday’s press conference, Bailiff made a point to single out the play of tight end Taylor Cook and backup center Keyshawn Carrington. “I was proud of both of them,” Bailiff said. Cook had three catches for 89 yards, including a 51-yard catch-and-run that set up the Owls’ go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. Carrington, who began the season as the starter, filled in for injured Eric Ball.

• Bailiff said there’s a chance the Owls could get back running back Sam McGuffie and tight end Luke Willson this week. Both have missed the past two games with ankle injuries.

• Senior nose tackle John Gioffre on needing to win the last three games for bowl eligibility: “It’s playoff time. We can’t lose or we don’t go to a bowl.”

• Rice hasn’t won a road game against a team from an automatic-qualifying BCS conference since beating Northwestern 40-34 in 1997.

• The Owls are 15th in the nation in red-zone efficiency, converting 90 percent (26 of 29) of their chances inside the opponent 20-yard line. But only 16 of the trips (55 percent) have resulted in touchdowns.